Sanitary napkin



S. R- TESTA SANITARY NAPKIN Feb. 6, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1965 Fla 4 Feb. 6, 1968 s. R. TESTA 3,367,334

SANITARY NAPKIN Filed March 31, 1965 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,367,334 SANITARY NAPKIN Samuel R. Testa, Irondequoit, N.Y. (91 Birch Hills Drive, Rochester, N.Y. 14622) Filed Mar. 31, 1965, Ser. No. 444,167 8 Claims. (Cl. 128--290) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed a sanitary napkin for feminine hygiene, comprising a plurality of separate sections piled one on top of another, with the topmost section being placed next to the body while the remaining sections constitute a reserve supply for successive use, each topmost section being removed and discarded after a suitable interval. A moisture barrier sheet is folded over all but the topmost section, thus protecting the reserve supply sections from moisture, both on the face areas thereof and at the lateral edges thereof.

This invention relates to a sanitary napkin for feminine hygiene.

An object of the invention is the provision of a generally improved and more satisfactory article of this kind.

Another object is the provision of a sanitary napkin assembly including a reserve supply of absorbent material, constituting part of the assembly itself and available for use after the initial portion of the assembly has been used and discarded.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a sanitary napkin assembly comprising a plurality of separate fluid-absorbing portions, so arranged as to be successively used and discarded, the next successive portion being brought into use when the previous one has been discarded.

A further object is the provision of a sanitary napkin assembly suificiently compact to be worn comfortably and conveniently, yet having a plurality of sections usable successively, so that there is a reserve supply of absorbent material available for use when needed, until the last section is brought into use.

These and other desirable objects may be attained in the manner disclosed as an illustrative embodiment of the invention in the following description and in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sanitary napkin assembly according to a preferred form of the present invention, with parts broken away, and with certain protective sheets in an unfolded condition or position, in order to show better the structure normally enclosed within the protective sheets;

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view showing the protective sheets folded over the reserve supply of material, in protecting relation thereto, and showing in full lines the first unit folded back to permit access to the protective sheets, and showing in broken lines the first unit lying flat in overlying relation to the protective sheets, in the position which it assumes when the structure is being worn;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the right hand end of the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in end elevation of the assembly, viewed from the right end of FIG. 2, with the parts in the initialed packaged condition in which the article is sold to the customer, showing in full lines the protective sheets wrapped in enveloping relation to all of the absorbent units, and showing in broken lines the protective sheets opened up to obtain access to the top one of the absorbent units;

3,367,334 Patented Feb. 6, 1968 FIG. 5 is an end view similar to FIG. 4, but with the protective sheets folded under the top absorbent unit and on top of the remainder of the absorbent units, ready to be worn;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view somewhat similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating further details; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section through the construction.

According to the present invention, a sanitary napkin assembly or ensemble is provided, which has a plurality of initially connected yet separable sections or units each having enough absorbent capacity to absorb menstrual flow for a few hours. These separate units are brought into use successively, and as each one becomes sufiiciently soiled, it is removed from the assembly and discarded, the next unit of the assembly then being brought into position of use, and so on successively, until the last unit has been used and discarded. With this arrangement of a plurality of separate disposable or discardable absorbent units, the complete assembly or ensemble will give protection for twenty-four hours or more, and yet at all times during the day the napkin unit which is actually in use has been used only for a few hours and is reasonably fresh and not seriously soiled or odorous.

This construction avoids the need for the user to carry spare napkins in a pocketbook or handbag, in case she does not have access during the day to a source of supply for additional napkins. Thus it is a great convenience, enabling the user to start the day by wearing simply a single assembly made according to the present invention, without the need for carrying any spares. As the day goes on, the user removes succesive units or portions of the complete assembly, and discards them by flushing them down a toilet or otherwise, and puts a fresh clean one of the absorbent units into the proper position for use. This procedure continues at intervals throughout the day, so that at all times the absorbent unit which is then in use has only been in use for a few hours, is still reasonably clean, and has not yet become objectionably odorous.

Referring now to the drawings, the assembly comprises what may be called a base unit or bottom unit, for convenience of description, although this base unit constitutes the outermost or front unit when the assembly is being worn on the person. This bottom unit is indicated in general at 11 and comprises a filling of absorbent material such for example as a multiplicity of sheets of soft, absorbent, and somewhat fluffy paper of the familiar conventional kind commonly used in facial tissues or paper handkerchiefs. This filling 13 is enveloped in a sheet 15 of somewhat stronger porous absorbent sheeting, preferably of the kind known as non-woven fabric, the enveloping sheet being extended at both ends from the enclosed pad 13, for an appropriate distance of, say, five or six inches beyond each end of the pad 13, the pad itself having a length of, for example, about nine inches, and a width of about 2 /2 inches at one end (the upper end when worn in normal position) and it may be of slightly narrower width, such as 2 inches or 1% inches, at the other end. The extension of the enveloping sheet 15 at the upper end is indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 at 17, and at the lower end is indicated at 19.

On this initial or base pad 11, 13, 15 which constitutes the foundation of the assembly, there are superimposed a plurality of separate absorbent pad units or portions, of any convenient number, indicated in general by the numerals 21 through 26, inclusive. Each of these units 21 through 2 6 is of about the same shape and size as that described above for the base unit 11, 13, 15. Like the base unit, each of the units 21-26 is preferably made of a plurality of absorbent sheets of facial tissue or paper handkerchief quality, so folded as to form their own envelope or covering, without requiring any separate covering to hold the sheets together. Five or six such units is found in practice to be a convenient number, although more or less may be used, and six are shown in the drawings merely as an example. The units are piled one on top of the other, as well seen in the drawings.

The various units 21 through 26 are fastened at one end to each other and to the base unit 11, 13 by means of a strip of adhesive tape 31 which, as best seen in FIG. 3, extends around one end of the top unit 26, as at 33, and then along the under face of the unit for a short distance to a point where the adhesive tape is folded back sharply on itself as at 35, then extends along the top face of the second unit, around the edge of the second unit and a short distance along the bottom face thereof, and is doubled back on itself again, and so on, the adhesive side of the tape 31 in each case being stuck to the absorbent unit with which it is associated, the other side or surface of the tape being non-adhesive. The tape is preferably scored or weakened as at 37, at a point on the top of each of the units.

The assembly also includes a relatively non-absorbent and moisture-resistant protective sheet 41, preferably but not necessarily transparent, such as either of the waterproof soft and clinging transparent plastic sheetings known as Glad Wrap and as Saran Wrap and readily available on the market. These sheetings, made of polyethylene of similar material, have the property of clinging to adjacent layers of the same material, so that the two flaps 41a and 41b mentioned below will tend to cling to each other when pressed together. They are also soft and nonirritating if they happen to come into contact with sensitive parts of the human skin.

Throughout the area of the bottom layer or base unit 11, 13, the protective sheet 41 is adhesively secured to the bottom sheet 15 of the base unit, but extends a subst-antial distance laterally at both sides, as shown in FIG. 1, to provide two opposite flap portions 41a and 4111. When the article is initially manufactured and packed ready for sale to the customer, the flap 41a of the protective sheet 41 is folded up and over, from the initial position shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, to the position shown in full lines, where the flap 41a extends up the side of the assembled stack of units 21-26 and over the top of the topmost one thereof. Similarly, the other fl-ap 41b of the protective sheet is folded up the opposite side of the stack of absorbent units, and across the top, in overlying relation to the flap 41a, as also shown in FIG. 4. Also, initially, the end flaps 17 and 19 of the base unit are folded up the ends and over the top of the assembled stack, so as to make a very neat and compact package which can, if desired, be enclosed within a small envelope for packing purposes, and which may be readily dispensed from a coin controlled dispensing machine, and may be readily carried in a handbag or purse.

Since the flaps 41a and 411) are transparent, it may be diflicult for the user to locate quickly the free edge of each flap. Consequently each flap may carry at its free edge a small opaque portion 43a and 4312 respectively, either printed in opaque ink directly on the transparent sheeting, or in the form of small pieces of opaque material adhesively applied to the transparent sheeting. The opaque portions 43a and 43b may carry suitable legends or indicia, such as Tab No. 1 and Tab No. 2, respectively, which are keyed to directions for use in an accompanying direction sheet explaining how and when the flaps are to be folded.

When it is desired to commence use of the article, the flaps 17 and 19 are, of course, unfolded from the top of the stack of absorbent units, and the protective sheet flaps 41a and 41b are also unfolded to a position such as shown in FIG. 1. Then the topmost one 26 of the absorbent units is lifted up and folded back, as shown in full lines in FIG. 2, after which the protective flaps 41a and 41b are replaced in protecting position, up the sides and over the top of the stack of elements 21 through 25, inclusive. Then the topmost unit 26 is laid flat again on top of the stack of units 2125, the unit 26 at this time being on top of the protecting sheet flaps 41a and 4117, rather than being underneath them.

The assembly is now ready to be applied to the body of the wearer, with the exposed absorbent unit 26 toward and in contact with the body, and with the base or bottom unit 11 away from the body and faced forwardly. The assembly is held in proper position on the body by means of the end flaps 17 at top and 19 at bottom, which are suitably fastened as for example by safety pins, to any suitable part of the wearers clothing, or a belt or other suitable support.

The exposed absorbent unit 26, next to the body, absorbs the menstrual fiow in the intended manner, while the other absorbent units 21-25 are protected by the sheet 41 so that they do not absorb moisture and remain fresh and clean. Yet the entire package, including the series of absorbent units held in reserve as spares, is sufficiently small to be worn comfortably and inconspicuously.

After an interval of a few hours more or less, depending on circumstances, the assembly is temporarily removed from the persons body, and the top unit 26, containing the absorbed fluid therein, is torn off the remainder of the units by severing the adhesive tape 31 along the weakened line 37, and is discarded in any suitable way, such as being flushed down a toilet. Then the protective sheets 41a, 4111 are unfolded from the top of the stack of units, the topmost one of the remaining units (which will now be the unit 25, for example) is folded back temporarily, in the way the initial unit 26 was previously folded back, and the protective flaps 41a and 41/) are folded again into their effective protecting position, overlying the units 2144. Then the unit 25 is put back on top of the protective sheets 41a 41b, and the assembly is once more applied to the body, as before.

After a suitable interval, the unit 25 is taken of? and discarded, and the unit 24 is brought into use. The procedure is repeated at such intervals as may be necessary, every few hours more or less, until all of the absorbent units have been used up. The final or base unit 11, 13 gives ultimate safe protection at all times, while the other individual units hinged to it and to each other being successively used.

If desired, the soft absorbent paper or other material of which the individual units are constructed, may be treated with a sanitizing mate-rial, or with a deodorant or odor-reducing material. Preferably each pad of absorbent material is lightly sprayed with a light mineral oil to which deodorant or perfume has been added. The small amount of mineral oil tends to prevent absorbed body fluid from spreading or migrating to other parts of the absorbent pad.

It is seen from the foregoing disclosure that the objects and purposes of the invention are well fulfilled. It is to be understood that the foregoing disclosure is given by way of illustrative example only, rather than by way of limitation, and that without departing from the invention, the details may be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sanitary napkin assembly comprising a plurality of absorbent pads assembled in superposed position with respect to each other, means detachably securing said pads to each other, and a moisture-resistant sheet secured to one of said pads and adapted to be folded over all but the top one of said pads, so that the top one of said pads may be worn against the body to absorb fluid and the rest of said pads will constitute a reserve supply enclosed within and protected against fluid by said sheet.

2. A sanitary napkin assembly comprising a series of absorbent pads stacked one on top of another and intended to be successively used and successively discarded, and moisture-re istant barrier means located between that pad which is being worn next to the body of the user and the next adjacent pad of the series, in position to protect both the surface area and the lateral edge portions of the remaining pads from substantialy moisture to serve as a reserve supply of pads for further use after the first pad has absorbed moisture and has been removed and discarded.

3. A sanitary napkin assembly comprising a base pad of relatively elongated and narrow shape, flexible attaching means extending from both ends of said base pad for attachment to an article worn by a person to hold the pad assembly in proper relation to the body, a plurality of individual pad units 'detachably secured to each other and to the base pad in overlying relation to each other and the base pad, and a moisture-resistant sheet secured to the base pad and of sufficient dimensions so that it may initially be folded over all of the absorbent pad units before use, and so that in use the sheet may be placed between the top pad unit and the next pad unit to maintain the rest of the pad units substantially moisture-free as a reserve supply, while the top pad unit is worn against the body of the wearer to absorb moisture therefrom.

4. A construction as defined in claim 3, in which said moisture-resistant sheet is of transparent material, and is provided with opaque portions at its free edges to aid in quickly locating the edges when the sheet is to be folded or unfolded with respect to the pad units.

5. A construction as defined in claim 3, in which the pad units are detachably secured to each other by adhesive tape at one end of the assembly of units and engaging the corresponding end of each of the pad units.

6. A construction as defined in claim 5, in which said adhesive tape is weakened adjacent the juncture between successive pad units.

7. A construction as defined in claim 2, in which each of said absorbent pads is of material readily flushable down an ordinary water closet without clogging thereof.

8. A construction as defined in claim 2, in which said moisture-resistant barrier means is shiftable from one position to another and is adapted to be shifted to underlie a new top pad after a previous top pad has been removed and discarded.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,843,037 1/1932 Mathey 128290 2,295,016 9/1942 Scribner 128290 2,929,379 3 /1960 Poulsen 128290 3,294,090 12/1966 Younger 128290 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES F. ROSENBAUM, Examiner. 

